Battery pack

Abstract

Firmware of a battery pack ( 2 ) is stored in a rewritable storage device such as a flash memory ( 8 ). When troubleshooting or performance improvement is needed, a personal computer main body (host equipment) ( 1 ) obtains up-to-date firmware from a storage medium or the Internet, and transmits it to a battery pack ( 2 ) via an SMBus ( 5 ) using a firmware transfer device ( 12 ). A firmware rewriting device ( 11 ) of the battery pack ( 2 ) rewrites the firmware stored in the flash memory ( 8 ) on the basis of the up-to-date firmware.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A battery power source device for performing data transmission and reception between a battery pack, which includes a rechargeable battery and a battery management function for controlling charging and discharging of the rechargeable battery, and host equipment in which the battery pack is mounted, the battery pack and the host equipment being connected to each other by a communication path, 
       wherein the battery pack further comprises: a rewritable storage device for storing firmware of the battery pack for controlling the battery management function; and a firmware rewriting device for rewriting the firmware stored in the storage device, and  
       the host equipment comprises a firmware transfer device for transferring up-to-date firmware, for controlling the battery management function, inputted from a data input device to the battery pack via the communication path, wherein the firmware rewriting device writes the up-to-date firmware to the storage device of the battery pack.  
     
     
       2. A battery power source device for performing data transmission and reception between a battery pack, which includes a rechargeable battery and a battery management function for controlling charging and discharging of the rechargeable battery, and host equipment in which the battery pack is mounted, the battery pack and the host equipment being connected to each other by a communication path, 
       wherein the battery pack further comprises: a rewritable storage device for storing firmware of the battery pack for controlling the battery management function; and a firmware rewriting device for rewriting the firmware stored in the storage device, and  
       the host equipment comprises: an Internet access device for providing access to the Internet; an up-to-date firmware retrieval device for retrieving, after reading URL information stored in the storage device, up-to-date firmware, for controlling the battery management function, from an appropriate server listed in the URL information; and a firmware transfer device for transferring the up-to-date firmware to the battery pack via the communication path, wherein the firmware rewriting device writes the up-to-date firmware to the storage device of the battery pack.  
     
     
       3. The battery power source device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a temporary storage device for temporarily storing the up-to-date firmware retrieved by the up-to-date firmware retrieval device over the Internet. 
     
     
       4. A battery power source device comprising: 
       a battery pack having a rechargeable battery;  
       a battery management unit controlling charging and discharging of the rechargeable battery;  
       host equipment;  
       said battery pack being mounted in said host equipment;  
       a communication path connecting the battery pack and the host equipment;  
       said battery pack including:  
       a rewritable storage device storing firmware of the battery pack for controlling the battery management unit; and  
       a firmware rewriting device rewriting the firmware stored in the storage device;  
       said host equipment including a firmware transfer device transferring up-to-date firmware inputted from a data input device to the battery pack via the communication path; and  
       said firmware rewriting device rewriting the firmware stored in the storage device with the up-to-date firmware to effect updated charging and discharging of the rechargeable battery by the battery management unit.  
     
     
       5. A battery power source device comprising: 
       a battery pack having a rechargeable battery;  
       a battery management unit for controlling charging and discharging of the rechargeable battery;  
       host equipment;  
       said battery pack being mounted in said host equipment;  
       a communication path connecting the battery pack and the host equipment;  
       said battery pack including:  
       a rewritable storage device storing firmware of the battery pack for controlling the battery management unit; and  
       a firmware rewriting device rewriting the firmware stored in the storage device, and  
       the host equipment including:  
       an Internet access device providing access to the Internet;  
       an up-to-date firmware retrieval device for retrieving, after reading URL information stored in the storage device, up-to-date firmware, for controlling the battery management unit, from a server listed in the URL information; and  
       a firmware transfer device transferring the up-to-date firmware to the battery pack via the communication path; and  
       said firmware rewriting device rewriting the firmware stored in the storage device with the up-to-date firmware to effect updated charging and discharging of the rechargeable battery by the battery management unit.  
     
     
       6. The battery power source device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a temporary storage device temporarily storing the up-to-date firmware retrieved by the up-to-date firmware retrieval device over the Internet. 
     
     
       7. A battery system, comprising: 
       a battery module including:  
       a rechargeable battery;  
       a battery charging control unit for monitoring and controlling charging of said rechargeable battery;  
       a re-writeable storage unit storing firmware for controlling said battery charging control unit; and  
       a writing device for receiving updated firmware and writing the updated firmware to the re-writeable storage unit to effect updated control of said battery charging control unit;  
       a host device powered at least in part by said battery module, the host device including:  
       an input device for receiving the updated firmware;  
       a communication path interfacing with said writing device and transferring the updated firmware from said input device to said writing device; and  
       a battery charger responsive to said battery charging control unit of said battery module for charging said rechargeable battery;  
       wherein said writing device writes the updated firmware received from the communication path to the re-writeable storage unit to effect the updated control of said battery charger.  
     
     
       8. The battery system according to  claim 7 , wherein the host device further includes a temporary storage device temporarily storing the updated firmware received by the data input device until at least a complete copy of the updated firmware is received before the updated firmware is transferred to said writing device of said battery module. 
     
     
       9. The battery system according to  claim 7 , wherein said input device includes: 
       an Internet access device providing access to the Internet; and  
       a firmware retrieval device for retrieving, after reading URL information stored in the storage device, said updated firmware from a server listed in the URL information.  
     
     
       10. The battery system according to  claim 8 , wherein said input device includes: 
       an Internet access device providing access to the Internet; and  
       a firmware retrieval device for retrieving, after reading URL information stored in the storage device, said updated firmware from a server listed in the URL information.